Goodness and Mercy Pursue Us All Our Days

Psalm 23:6 lands as David’s confident look back over a life full of victories, mess-ups, danger, and God’s care. David says, “Surely,” or without a doubt, goodness and mercy will pursue him all the days of his life. The verse does not deny that hard things gain on people. Age, debt, conflict, church drama, election drama, and unresolved relationships can feel like they are closing in. But God’s goodness and mercy are also gaining ground.

The word “pursue” gives the verse its force. Pharaoh pursued Israel with rage and fury as Israel fled Egypt, but God pursued Israel with provision, presence, manna, and the pillar of fire. God’s pursuit is not passive. God’s goodness is not merely following at a safe distance. Goodness and mercy are like God’s footmen, rolling out the red carpet and making a way for those God brings home.

The word tov names the goodness of God’s creation. God called the world good, beautiful, life-giving, secure, and full of human flourishing. God’s goodness takes care of each day’s steps. The word hesed names God’s steadfast love, loyal love, and mercy. Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi gives a picture of that kind of love, a love that stays when leaving would be easier. God’s mercy takes care of the stumbles, including clumsy words, bad choices, and sins that need forgiveness.

Christ puts God’s goodness and mercy on display at the table. Jesus sits down with Matthew, tax collectors, sinners, and people pushed to the fringe. The Pharisees build an “us” zone and a “them” zone, but Jesus crosses that line. Christ says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” calling religious people to move toward those they would rather avoid.

The Lord’s Table shows the same mercy. Christ prepares a table not for perfect people, but for Peter who denies, Thomas who doubts, and Judas who betrays. The body and blood of Christ meet people while they are still far off. God’s overflowing love then calls His people to carry that goodness and mercy toward neighbors, coworkers, family members, and even the person who feels sketchy or inconvenient.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Goodness and mercy are gaining ground. Psalm 23 does not pretend that fear, pressure, or pain are imaginary. God’s pursuing love is more real than the things that seem to be catching up. David’s certainty grows from looking back and seeing that God had been there through every part of the story. [32:05]
• 2. God’s goodness cares for daily steps. Tov is bigger than something being nice or pleasant. God’s goodness includes beauty, security, integrity, life, and the kind of flourishing God intended in creation. God remains actively at work in ordinary days, guiding steps that often seem small and unnoticed. [34:45]
• 3. Mercy meets every stumble with love. Hesed is God’s loyal love that does not walk away when people fail. God’s mercy does not excuse sin, but it receives confession and cleanses the sinner. Christ’s love reaches into clumsy words, broken relationships, and failures that cannot be repaired by self-effort. [38:56]
• 4. Christ crosses the “us” and “them” line. Jesus refuses the religious instinct to stay clean by staying distant. Christ moves toward tax collectors, sinners, doubters, betrayers, and outcasts because mercy is the heart of God. God’s pursued people are called to become people who carry that mercy toward those they are tempted to avoid.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [22:30] - Introduction and Psalm 23:6
• [27:59] - The Overflowing Cup of Abundance
• [29:15] - Surely Goodness and Mercy Pursue
• [30:58] - What Is Gaining on You?
• [33:00] - Pharaoh’s Pursuit and God’s Provision
• [34:20] - Tov: God’s Deep Goodness
• [35:56] - Hesed: Steadfast and Loyal Love
• [37:37] - The Hound of Heaven
• [39:39] - Jesus at Matthew’s Table
• [42:08] - Mercy for Those Avoided
• [44:06] - The Lord’s Table and Confession

Bible Reading

Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” [29:15]

Matthew 9:10-13
“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” [39:39]

Hosea 6:6
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” [41:39]

Observation questions

1. In Psalm 23:6, what two things does David say will pursue him, and how long does he expect that pursuit to continue?
2. What kinds of pressures or problems can feel as though they are “gaining on” a person, and what contrasting reality does Psalm 23:6 hold out? [32:05]
3. What examples show that God’s goodness includes more than something merely pleasant or nice? [35:15]
4. In Matthew 9:10–13, who is gathered around the table with Jesus, and why do the Pharisees object to it? [40:00]

Interpretation questions

1. Psalm 23:6 uses the language of pursuit rather than a distant or passive following. How does that word change the way a person may understand God’s involvement in ordinary hardships and failures? [37:37]
2. God’s goodness cares for daily steps, while God’s mercy cares for stumbles. Why is it important to distinguish between God’s care in everyday life and His mercy when someone sins or fails? [38:56]
3. Jesus responds to the Pharisees by pointing them to God’s desire for mercy. What does this reveal about the difference between trying to look spiritually clean and extending God’s mercy to people in need? [41:27]
4. Jesus shared a table with people whom others considered disreputable. What might His choice to eat with them communicate about who is welcome to come near Him? [41:02]

Application questions

1. What currently feels like it is gaining on you—pressure, conflict, debt, aging, disappointment, or something else? How might it help to remember that God’s goodness and mercy are also pursuing you? [31:14]
2. Where have you seen God care for your daily steps recently, even in a small or ordinary way? Consider provision, protection, beauty, encouragement, or a timely relationship. [35:35]
3. Is there a recent stumble—sin, harsh words, a poor decision, or a damaged relationship—that needs to be honestly confessed to God? What would it look like to receive His mercy rather than trying to cover it up? [39:13]
4. Who is someone you are tempted to keep in a “them” category: a neighbor, coworker, family member, church member, or someone whose choices make you uncomfortable? What is one wise and tangible way you could move toward that person with mercy this week? [41:39]
5. Jesus meets people at the table who are imperfect, doubting, and even failing Him. How does that truth affect the way you approach God when you feel unworthy or far off? [44:32]
6. What could it look like for your group, household, or workplace to be known not merely for having strong opinions, but for showing the mercy God desires? [42:08]